Ashtavakra Says,

"My child, you may speak or hear scriptures (about Atman), but cannot be established in It unless you forget about all of them" (Ch. XVI. Verse 1). We often go on talking about scriptures, quote exhaustively from them, and discuss about the 'Self'. But, little do we realize that the scriptures do not reveal the Self, the Atman.  We cannot realize the Self if we go on indulging in the talks; our mind, intellect and the senses are of no avail in this 'realization of the Self'. we cannot see our face in boiling water. An active mind, a curious search, or even a sharp intellect will not be of any use here. It is a calm and cool state, rather, a still mind only that can 'realize' the Self. Here, 'Realization'  is  not something that one can see or know! It is just that, 'tat sat'. There is no second here. The 'perceiver and the perceived becomes one'; one who perceives is no other than what one perceives! If there are two- the one 'who perceives' and 'an other' that is perceived, one can perceive only when there exists, what is called, the object of perception. The object is the product, manifest form of the Self itself (the Consciousness). Here, the pure Consciousness is consciously aware of its Self (pure Consciousness). This state is called 'Shiva'. Shiva is the absolute state, brahman and all other things are its manifest forms!

  This understanding is the ultimate realization. There is nothing beyond this. The Vedic doctrines clearly state: Atma eva brahmaa| ayam Atma brahmaa | sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa |  

The sadhaka attains this param-pada, the highest seat of brahman when he/she realizes that there is nothing besides 'Self'; The 'Self' only exists and nothing besides 'IT'. In the Gitopadesha to Arjuna, Lord Shree Krishna says, "I (pure Consciousness/ shuddha-prajnya) only exist and nothing besides Me (pure Consciousness).

Contemplate on Brahman and attain to the state of brahman. Brahmasutras (Verse 555) assert that "Whoever is established in contemplation on brahman is brahman only".